Hello. Do I have to lube the mouth of my pistol brass when I use the expander ball? I have been reloading for a long time and I use a redding carbide button on my resizer dies for the necks of my rifle brass but I never thought that it was necessary for pistol brass. I am reloading 9mm at this time but I have never lubed the area where the bullet seats when I use the pistol expander die. Do I have to? The reason I ask is because while reading the Redding web site, I noticed that they came out with their premium die sets for pistols that has a carbide sizer and a new improved premium expander die that is now coated in titanium nitride for increased lubricity (I suppose this is sort of like a carbide for the pistol brass mouth and does not need lubrication) and is supposed to perform 4 functions After expanding the diameter for proper fit of the bullet, then there follows a concentric ring which opens up the case mouth slightly larger than bullet diameter, then a final taper if case you want to bell the mouth for cast bullets. Is all this necessary? Does anyone have experience with this new expander die? Has Redding created a solution for a problem that rarely occurs?
Do I have to lube the necks of my pistol brass when using expander die?
- Thread starter pasote
- Start date
No experience with that particular die, but I've never used any lube on any process after the initial sizing. Since I started using carbide sizing dies I use no lube at all when loading pistol or revolver ammo. IMHO, in this case Redding has created created a solution for a non existing problem.
SSL
Gold $$ Contributor
Not needed and only makes for additional steps to clean up the lube before dropping the powder and seating the bullet. Like Twicepop said, looks like a marketing ploy to sell an unnecessary item!
no..it should be a very small bell...just to sit the bullet in when seating
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
A time saving trick that I often use, is to bell the case mouth on the up-stroke, and seat a primer on the down stroke. (RCBS press with auto primer feed attachment) Kills two birds with one stroke. jd
No lube needed on 9mm for the expander. That expander the OP describes is really good for concentric seating of jacketed or plated bullets. It can be a problem with cast or coated bullets. The "ring" can scrape coating and lead as the bullet seats if it's too abrupt.
I can tell you from experience that the powder funnel on my Dillon will start to pickup (smear) brass onto the expander if you run things dry. Its the worst on new brass or brass cleaned in pins. I polish the funnel expander in flitz and lube it with die wax. Plus the lever pulls a lot easier. Once you get carbon inside the necks its not an issue even if the cases have been washed.
I don't have experience with that die but I do have experience with titanium nitride. The nitride finish is to help with wear on the expander die not so much on your brass.
Agree, no lube needed on the expander.
I've loaded thousands of .45 auto and .38 Special on my Hornady LNL progressive with Hornady dies.
If cases are new or all carbon fouling removed, then some lube may be needed.
Bell them just enough to help the bullet start into the mouth. Lead cast take a bit more.
I used a taper crimp on the .38 Special also (rather than traditional roll crimp) because I was loading a fairly light bullet and not very hot, so the taper was enough to hold the bullets.
I've loaded thousands of .45 auto and .38 Special on my Hornady LNL progressive with Hornady dies.
If cases are new or all carbon fouling removed, then some lube may be needed.
Bell them just enough to help the bullet start into the mouth. Lead cast take a bit more.
I used a taper crimp on the .38 Special also (rather than traditional roll crimp) because I was loading a fairly light bullet and not very hot, so the taper was enough to hold the bullets.
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